Oribotics - the art/science of robotic origami

Electro Luminescent

July 31, 2005 on 11:50 am | In Uncategorized |

I visited the Institute for Future Design, and met with Azby Brown, a lecturer at Kanazawa University. He runs a studio in Harajuku which is sponsored by the university. While there he suggested I look at EL as a means for replacing the projected light in oribotics, so the flowers are self luminescent.

So we called a local Japanese company, and arranged a visit to the office. When I arrived it was a home office. I saw some interesting sheets of EL, which work best in greenish colour, white is apparently very difficult and so very expensive. Tomoyo san, who I met, was very kind and explained the techniques to me. Explaining how I would have to use the material to get my desired effect. I have to say I wasnt strongly convinced of the applicability of EL material to my vision. To light a full oribot, you need a bulky, expensive power supply. It seemed better applied to signage.

It was good to remove that idea from the list, and it confirmed my love for the projected light, and the way I imagine it creating the interaction.